Chair construction



June 2, 1964 s. D. LOC:KSHIN CHAIR CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 27, 1962 INVENTOR.

SAMUEL D. LOCKSHIN I wad ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,135,552 CHAIR CONSTRUCTEUN Samuel D. Lockshin, Baker Hill, Northampton, Mass., assignor to Hampden Specialty Products Corporation, Easthampton, Mass.

Filed Sept. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 226,5?0 2 Claims. ((31. 297-452) This invention is directed to the construction of seating or backing for chairs, seats, divans, porch furniture, and the like, the surfaces of the seating or backing being of the kind composed basically of wooden strips or slats secured between transverse metallic supporting frame members, and has for its main object the provision of improvements in means for elfectuating, initially, the securement together, or marriage, of wooden and metal members to produce a generally rectangular composite structure wedded together in manner to preclude the unwanted separation thereof at the point of jointure, and subsequently, the integration of the structure into a frame formed from tubular supports, to present a finished structure construction wherein plane and cylindrical surfaces are successfully blended to the end that an article of unusual rigidity, beauty and symmetry is produced.

As a primary purpose hereof, I teach a new and novel means adaptable for use in seating constructions, usually of the so-called outdoor or theatre types, and inclusive of the conventional seat and back components, which components are each frequently comprised of a plurality of spaced-apart rails or slats arranged in parallelism as to each other and interconnected and held stationarily at their opposite ends by a frame member extending in a direction transverse to the aXes of the slats. As is known, said slats and frame members are frequently both formed from Wood (in which instance, any of the conventional jointing systems used to interengage wooden components is employable, such as nailing, mitred joints or gluing) and are sometimes both formed from metal (in which instance, any of the conventional jointing systems used to interengage metal components is employable).

With the relatively-recent advent of the so-called modern furniture, where conjoint use of metal and wood has been introduced into a variety of furniture items for the esthetic appeal which such use provokes, problems have arisen, not only in the joining of a metal component to a wooden component and/ or vice versa, but also in the integration of this essentially rectangular structure into a frame of tubular metal, in the light of the desideratum of carrying out the theme of an esthetically appealing chair to the extreme limit and the preclusion of such purpose by the employment of the Well known and commonly accepted prior art systems of joining members including rivets, nails, bolts and nuts and washers, screws, and the like.

In this disclosure is taught the technique of first joining metal to wood by means of a channel-shaped metallic member, formed from aluminum or equivalent light and strong and pleasing-to-look-at metal, and a slatlike wooden member, formed from red wood or equivalent strong, colorful and attractive wood and, finally, the successful integration of this structure into a framework of tubular metal. In the instance of a chair or chaise construction, as herein illustrated, the parallel-disposed, spaced slats of the seat, back or leg-rest component thereof, may be formed of any pleasing-in-appearance wood, and the end frame instrumentalities of said component, adapted to support said slats, may be formed of any pleasing-in-appearance metal, and the outer framework may be formed of a suitable lightweight tubular metal.

A salient object of the invention is to facilitate the attachment of the ends of such slats to the respective channel-shaped end frame members, without weakening the 3,135,552 Patented June 2, 1964 slats or otherwise damaging the members in the attachment area.

As an important feature hereof, such attachment between frame members and slats may be accomplished using so-called rough-cut slats, whereby the time consuming and expensive additional step of finishing the slat ends is eliminated. In fact, as contemplated herein, the roughened or burred ends of the slats are used advantageously and contribute to a better bond between the metal and the wood.

Accordingly, the invention provides means for attaching a slat to an end frame member in the construction of a seating or backing subassembly of furniture of the kind specified, wherein the end frame member is so configured as to be slotted or grooved longitudinally to receive the rough-cut slat end whereby the slat or slats are held fixed in an operational plane relative to the chair structure, the arrangement being such that the slat will bind in the slotted or grooved frame member and, when subjected to normal operational tension, will not twist.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of attaching a slat end to an end frame member in the construction of a seating or back supporting surface, wherein the slat end is so related to the rail member that tension on the slat tends to set up a binding action between the slat and wall or walls of the rail member.

The end frame member is so configured as to be channel-shaped or U-shaped in cross-section throughout the greater portion of its length and to receive, through the mouth defined by the extremities of the oppositely-facing side walls thereof, one end portion of each of a plurality of slats designed to be held thereby, the slats of the plurality thereof being held in either confronting or side-byside parallel relationship as to each other or being held in spaced-apart parallel relationship as to each other.

The channel-shaped end frame member will be fabricated from a strong but resilient metal, wherefore the 0ppositely-facing side walls thereof will readily deform or spread outwardly to accept the end of a slat therebetween, but, once the slat has been inserted to the full depth of said frame member as defined by said oppositely-facing side walls, the inherent tension in these same side walls will urge them inwardly to grip firmly the opposite planar faces of the slat so as to produce an integral unit.

In one modification of the invention, a wooden slat member, so related to a metallic frame member in a nesting manner, may thereafter be additionally secured relative thereto as by a system of dimpling the outer planar surface of one of the side walls of the frame member, preferentially that surface least to be observed by the human eye, in manner to press the mass of metal thereat inwardly, in the form of a conical cleat or cleats, sufficiently to extend inwardly of the plane of the inner planar surface of the said side wall wherefore the wooden slat inwardly thereof is impinged by the inner end of the soformed cleat or cleats.

In another modification of the invention, a wooden slat member, also related to a metallic frame member in a nesting manner, may thereafter be additionally secured relative thereto as by a system of penetrating of one of the side walls of the frame member, again preferentially that surface least to be observed by the human eye, in manner to press the mass of metal thereat inwardly to form a pair of projections or prongs which extend angularly inwardly of the plane of the inner planar surface of the said side wall wherefore the wooden slat inwardly thereof is impinged by the innermost end of each of the so-formed projections.

The two methods of impingement, above described, while not a prerequisite to the establishment of a firm bond between metal and wood, give an added measure of ina.) surance against any possible twisting of the slat in its frame.

As another feature of the present invention, 1 provide new and novel attachment means between an end portion of a generally rectangular end frame member and a tubular outer frame member, such as conventionally employed in chairs or chaises of the types herein envisioned, it being recalled that such tubular member normally is disposed on an axis generally transverse to the axis of the end frame member.

In one embodiment, I propose to configure the said end portion of the rectangular end frame member wherefore same may be circumscribed about a portion of the peripheral surface of said tubular member and held stationarily relative thereto as by rivets or equivalent means extendable through the adjoining members or portions thereof, thus making possible the blending and joining of plane and cylindrical surfaces to produce an especially attractive composite structure.

In still another embodiment, especially adapted for use in a collapsible chaise having pivotally-interconnectin g seat and leg-rest portions, the said end portion of the rectangular end frame member of the seat portion is shaped to embrace a portion of the peripheral surface of the tubular member and is pivotaliy connected thereto as by a pin or equivalent means extendable through the adjoining members or portions thereof and a pivoting link connected to the leg-rest portion thus making possible the blending and joining of plane and cylindrical surfaces in a collapsible structure wherein said plane and cylindrical surfaces are pivotally related each to the other.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair construction incorporating the structure of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary and enlarged plan view of the connecting means between a tubular member and a generally rectangular frame member of the chair illustrating one aspect of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded fragmentary and sectional elevational view of one of the end frame members and slats A of the invention before assembly;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary and sectional elevational view of one of the end frame members and slats of the invention following assembly;

FIG. 5 is a broken top plan view of the rectangular frame member of FIG. 2 prior to connection to its respective tubular member;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are fragmentary and enlarged rear elevational views showing the connecting means between a frame member and a slat of the chair back illustrating variations of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary and enlarged rear elevational view showing the connecting means between a frame member and a slat of the chair back illustrating still another variation of the invention;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are sectional views on the lines 10-10 and 1l1ll, respectively of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the connecting means between a pair of spaced tubular members of the seat of a chaise and the generally rectangular frame member of said chaise illustrating still another aspect of the invention; and

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the connecting means of FIG. 12.

In the following description and drawings, a chair, shown in FIG. 1 as being of the collapsible type, is illustrated as being constituted by a seat 10, back 12, front and rear U-shaped leg frames 14- and 16 respectively, and arm rests 18, said leg frames supporting said arm rests, in known manner, and said seat and back being articulately interconnected with said leg frames and arm rests, also in known manner, whereby the chair may be adjusted between the shown erected position and the conventional i collapsed position (not shown, same not being pertinent to this disclosure).

Seat it? is comprised of a pair of oppositely-spaced, parallel side members 23, which will preferably be of tubular configuration, joined together at their opposite extremities by a pair of oppositely-spaced, parallel end frame members 22, with the composite structure forming a generally rectangular or square outline.

To receive the slat end subsequently to be described, the frame member 22, which is conveniently in the form of a rectangular-section metal bar, is provided with a groove or socket extending longitudinally of the frame member and opening through one side edge thereof. Said frame members 22 function in pairs and are each generally channel-shaped or U-shaped in configuration and are so related as to each other that their open sides or mouths are each inwardly-facing.

A plurality of slats or rails 24 are disposed in parallelism as to each other and as to tubular side members within the said rectangular or square outline of the seat 10 and may be disposed in close confronting, parallel, coplanar relationship as to each other, if a closed network is desired in the chair seating, or in spaced, parallel, coplanar relationship as to each other, if an open network is desired, all so as to provide the usual and known bodysupporting function.

Each channel-shaped frame member 22 is constituted by a so-called outboard connecting wall and a pair of spaced parallel side walls 32, 32 each connecting to said outboard connecting wall 39 and defining a slat-receiving mouth opposite from said connecting wall.

Back 12 is similarly comprised of a pair of oppositelyspaced side members 49, which also will preferably be of tubuar configuration, joined together at their opposite extremities or near extremities by a pair of oppositelyspaced end frame members 42, with the composite structure forming a generally rectangular or square outline.

Frame members 42 are each generally channel shaped or U-shaped, as in the case of frame members 22, with their open sides or mouths each inwardly-facing.

A plurality of slats or rails 44 are disposed in parallelism as to each other and as to side members witlu'n the said rectangular or square outline, in close-abutting relationship or in spaced relationship as to each other.

Each chanel-shaped frame member 42 is constituted by a so-called outboard connecting wall and a pair of spaced parallel side walls 52, 52 each connecting to said outboard connecting Wall'50 and defining a rail-receiving mouth opposite from said connecting wall.

Frame members 22 and 42 being substantially alike purposewise, functionwise, and constructionwise, only frame member 22 will now be discussed as to its interengagement with its related slat or slats.

As clearly depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, one free extremity of each rail member 24 is slidably received through the slat-receiving mouth of frame member 22 so as to be nested therewithin with its outermost end wall abutting the inner surface of outboard connecting wall 30 and with the portions of the side walls of each rail member received through said slat-receiving mouth closely embracing the inner surface of the respective adjacent side wall 32, each rail member being of a certain thickness, designated by the letter Y in FIG. 3, said certain thickness being slightly greater than the distance between the inner surfaces of the side walls 32, which dimension is designated by the letter K in FiG. 3.

The frame member 22 is fabricated from a strong, resilient metal of the nature of aluminum or the like, as aforesaid so that, as the slat end is moved between the spaced side walls 32, the side walls yield to allow the in gress of the slat; however, with the abutment of the slat end with the inner surface of connecting wall 30, the said side walls 32 will have resumed their original positions wherefore they are firmly engaging and slightly depressing the side walls of the slat.

The ends of the slats are not finished, as aforementioned; rather they are used in a rough-cut state wherefore the edges are rough or burred as indicated at 58 in the drawing. These rough edges contribute to a firmer jointure between the metal frame and wooden slat.

It will be understood that the opposite ends of a slat or rail member are attached to the opposite frame members in a substantially similar manner and that the remaining strips which make up the foundation of the chair seat or back are also similarly secured between the rail frame membrs so that the operational plane of the strip may be held in fixed body supporting position relative to the chair, the term operational plane of the strip being intended to identify the plane in which the greater part of the slat is located when the strip is operatively positioned between frame members. The slat will be firmly secured across the frame members since tension therein, or weight applied normally thereto, will have the effect of tending to angularly displace or twist the frame member so as to set up a binding or wedging action between the slats and frame members which will ensure that the slats will be frictionally retained against withdrawal with the burred or rough end 58 of the slats aiding in this binding or wedging action. The effect of a weight applied to the supported slat will, of course, be to increase the tension and thus also the wedging or binding force.

As shown in FIG. 5, the outboard wall 50 of each frame member 42 is cut back adjacent its opposite outer terminals to provide a pair of outwardly facing notches, each said notch defining a deforming area 60 bounded by the outboard wall 50 and by the outer ends of the side walls 52 and open at its outer end, with said walls 52 forming, at their outermost ends, a pair of spaced, parallel fingers 62 and 64, which fingers are adapted to be deformed to embrace the peripheral edge of the respective tubular member 40, in manner as shown in FIG. 2.

In practice, finger 62 is deformed inwardly to meet finger 64 whereupon the two are curved to partially circumscribe and embrace the respective adjacent tubular member 40. Rivets 66 or equivalent means may be extended transversely through said fingers 62 and 64 and tubular member 40 to insure connection therebetween.

Thus, by such simple outlined procedure, a strong and attractive connection is established between the generally rectangular frame members 42 and the tubular members 40.

It will, of course, be understood that frame members 22 of seat 11) will be connected to the respective tubular members in identical manner.

In one modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 through 8, a frame member 122, which is conveniently in the form of a rectangular-section metal bar, is provided with a groove or socket extending longitudinally of the frame member and opening through one side edge thereof to receive the end of a slat 124, and is generally channelshaped or U-shaped in configuration as with the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1-5.

Although only one slat is shown, it will be understood that a plurality of slats or rails 124 are disposed in parallelism as to each other, in a rectangular or square outline, all so as to provide the usual and known body-supporting function.

Each channel-shaped frame member 122 is constituted by an outboard connecting wall 130 and a pair of spaced parallel side walls 132 each connecting to said outboard connecting wall 130 and defining a slat-receiving mouth opposite from said connecting wall.

One free extremity of each rail member 124 is slidably received through the slat-receiving mouth of frame member 122 so as to be nested therewithin with its outermost end wall abutting the inner surface of outboard connecting wall 130 and with the portions of the side walls of each rail member received through said slat-receiving mouth closely embracing the inner surface of the respective adjacent side wall 132, each rail member being of a certain thickness corresponding to the dimension delineating the distance between the inner surfaces of the side walls 132.

One side wall 132 of frame member 122 will be provided with strategically-spaced cleats or inwardly extending projections 154 to engage and extend into the adjacent planar surface of the slat 124.

The Wooden slat 124, related to a metallic frame member 122 in a nesting manner, is accordingly, stationarily secured relative thereto as by a system of dimpling the outer planar surface of one of the side walls 132 of the frame member, preferentially that surface least to be observed by the human eye, in manner to press the mass of metal thereat inwardly, in the form of a generally conical cleat, and sumciently as to extend inwardly of the plane of the inner planar surface of the said side wall wherefore the wooden slat 124 inwardly thereof is impinged by the inner end of the so-formed conical cleat 154.

Alternatively, with the slat or rail member in said nested position, the frame member is then struck or spanked by an appropriate tool at the outer planar surface of one of the side walls 132 so as to deform a portion of said one side wall inwardly thereby forming the generally conical-in-shape cleat 154 which impinges the said rail thereadjacent by extending through the surface thereof and into the interior thereof.

One or two or more of said cleats may be employed, depending upon the degree of added security desired.

In FIG. 7, one cleat is provided and is disposed so as to be positioned on the longitudinal center line of the slat 124.

In FIG. 8, two cleats are provided and are disposed so as to be positioned adjacent the vertical edges of the rail 124.

In the modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. 9 through 11, a channel-shaped or U-shaped frame member 222, in configuration as with the embodiments of FIGS. 1-8, is provided with a groove or socket extending longitudinally thereof and opening through one side edge thereof to receive the end of a slat 224.

Said channel-shaped frame member 222 is constituted by an outboard connecting wall 230 and a pair of spaced parallel side walls 232 each connecting to said outboard connecting wall 230 and defining a slat-receiving mouth opposite from said connecting wall.

One side wall 232 of frame member 222 will be provided with strategically-spaced inwardly extending projections or prongs 254 to engage and extend into the adjacent planar surface of the slat 224.

The wooden slat 224, related to its metallic frame member 222 in a nesting manner, is accordingly, stationarily secured relative thereto as by a system of striking the outer planar surface of one of the side walls 232 of the frame member, preferentially that surface least to be observed by the human eye, using a tool which will depress and penetrate the metal forming a generally rectangular de pression with the prongs 254 extending angularly inwardly of the plane of the inner planar surface of the said side wall wherefore the wooden slat 224 inwardly thereof is impinged by the inner end of each of the prongs 254.

In FIGS. 12 and 13, I have shown another form of the invention especially adapted for use with a chaise lounge of the type having pivotally interconnecting, back-rest, seat and leg-rest portions. Such a chaise, per se, not forming any part of the invention, only those elements of the tubular framework of the seat as are essential to a proper understanding of the invention have been illustrated. The portion of the seat shown, will be that part which includes a pivoting link to articulately join the seat to the leg-rest section.

The seat, generally indicated by 310, is comprised of a pair of oppositely-spaced, parallel tubular side members 320 joined together at their opposite extremities by a pair of oppositely-spaced, parallel end frame members 322 (only one of which is shown) with the composite structure forming a generally rectangular or square outline.

Frame members 322 are each generally channel-shaped or U-shaped in configuration and are so related as to each other that their open sides or mouths are each inwardlyfacing.

A plurality of slats or rails 324 are disposed in parallelism as to each other and as to tubular side members 320 within the said rectangular or square outline of the seat 310 and may be disposed in spaced parallel generally coplanar relationship as to each other with their opposite ends nested in the frame members 322, all so as to provide the usual and known body-supporting function.

Each channel-shaped frame member 322 is constituted by an outboard connecting Wall 330 and a pair of spaced parallel side Walls 332, 332 each connecting to said outboard connecting wall 330 and defining a slat-receiving mouth opposite from said connecting wall.

The seat 310 will be articulately connected to the spaced parallel tubular side members of a leg-rest portion, not shown, by a pivoting link 35% extending therebetween in manner as will subsequently appear.

The frame members 322 will be connected to the respective tubular members 320 of the seat by a novel method wherein the outboard connecting Wall of each frame member is cut back to expose the extremities of side walls 332, which extremities extend outwardly therefrom in the form of upper and lower fingers 362 and 364, respectively.

The fingers 362 and 364 are bent upwardly so as to extend vertically relative to the plane of the seat and are then deformed at their outermost ends to provide a pair of outwardly-extending parallel, horizontally disposed flanges 366 and 368, adapted to overlie and embrace the pivoting links 350.

Pins 370 or equivalent extend transversely through the fingers 362 and 364, the upper end of the pivot link 350, and tubular member 320 whereby the seat 310 is articulately connected to the said tubular members.

The leg-rest portion of the chaise may be pivotally connected to the lower end of the pivoting link 350 in identical manner.

It will readily be appreciated that the attachment means of the embodiments as described and illustrated may be further modified in various other Ways to meet convenience of manufacture. The provision of such means makes the attachment of slats extremely simple since nails are no longer required wherefore slat renewal is facilitated, and the possibility of damage to the supporting framework is precluded. The invention has been described as applied to a chair and/ or chaise, but it will be appreciated that it is equally applicable to a garden bench, a divan or any other article of furniture or transportation seating which normally employs slats or rails, or as a basis for, a seating or reclining surface.

I claim:

1. In an article of furniture, a tubular framework, a seating and backing body-supporting surface composed basically of slats mounted across spaced substantially rectangular end frames, said end frames each being constituted by a rigid rail having a relatively-deep substai tially-rectangular section channel slot extending lengthwise of the rail and opening through a rail edge to define spaced side walls substantially parallel to the plane of said slats and an outboard wall substantially perpendicular to said plane, outwardly facing notches in said outboard wall at the opposite outer terminals of each said frame member, each said notch defining a pair of fingers adapted to be deformed to embrace the peripheral edge of the respective adjacent tubular frame member, and inwardly projecting cleats in one of said side walls, the slat ends being projected into said slot so as to bind against the slot walls and to be impinged by said cleats when the slats are subjected to normal operational tension.

2. A chair construction comprising, in combination, a chair frame, a seating constituted by a pair of spaced apart supports on said frame and a plurality of spaced apart slats secured to said supports and defining a seating surface, a backing constituted by a pair of spaced apart supports on said frame and a plurality of spaced apart slats secured to said supports and defining a back surface, each said support comprising a generally U-shaped rigid rail having a relatively-deep rectangular in section channel slot extending lengthwise of the rail and opening toward the other said support of the pair to define spaced side walls substantially parallel to the plane of the respective of said slats interconnected by an outboard wall substantially perpendicular to said plane and a plurality of inwardly-projecting cleats in one of the side walls, the ends of the slats being extendable into the slot to bind against the slot Walls and to be impinged by said cleats when the slats are subjected to normal operational tension.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 853,086 Jacquart May 7, 1907 1,195,014 Hild Aug. 15, 1916 1,455,754 Trimble May 15, 1923 1,715,118 Clark May 28, 1929 2,102,724 Lesinski Dec. 21, 1937 2,626,653 Van Wyck Jan. 27, 1953 2,871,926 Haschke Feb. 3, 1959 3,054,643 Militano Sept. 18, 1962 3,067,438 Degen Dec. 11, 1962 

1. IN AN ARTICLE OF FURNITURE, A TUBULAR FRAMEWORK, A SEATING AND BACKING BODY-SUPPORTING SURFACE COMPOSED BASICALLY OF SLATS MOUNTED ACROSS SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR END FRAMES, SAID END FRAMES EACH BEING CONSTITUTED BY A RIGID RAIL HAVING A RELATIVELY-DEEP SUBSTANTIALLY-RECTANGULAR SECTION CHANNEL SLOT EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF THE RAIL AND OPENING THROUGH A RAIL EDGE TO DEFINE SPACED SIDE WALLS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF SAID SLATS AND AN OUTBOARD WALL SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID PLANE, OUTWARDLY FACING NOTCHES IN SAID OUTBOARD WALL AT THE OPPOSITE OUTER TERMINALS OF EACH SAID FRAME MEMBER, EACH SAID NOTCH DEFINING A PAIR OF FINGERS ADAPTED TO BE DEFORMED TO EMBRACE THE PERIPHERAL EDGE OF THE RESPECTIVE ADJACENT TUBULAR FRAME MEMBER, AND INWARDLY PROJECTING CLEATS IN ONE OF SAID SIDE WALLS, THE SLAT ENDS BEING PROJECTED INTO SAID SLOT SO AS TO BIND AGAINST THE SLOT WALLS AND TO BE IMPINGED BY SAID CLEATS WHEN THE SLATS ARE SUBJECTED TO NORMAL OPERATIONAL TENSION. 